Illinois officials assessing Kankakee County tornado damage to determine relief funds needed
By Kade Heather
Published on March 12, 2026.
The tornado that hit Kankakee County, Illinois, destroyed at least 30 homes and damaged nearly 500 buildings, according to Gov. JB Pritzker. No deaths were reported in Illinois and there were few injuries. The National Weather Service categorized the tornado as an EF3, on a five-step scale, with EF5 being the most powerful. Buildings damaged include schools, Riverside Hospital, the Kankakese County jail and courthouse, and the Shapiro Developmental Center. The state plans to bring its assessments to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, hoping to bring in federal resources. The storm also produced potentially record-setting hail and caused extensive damage to homes and vehicles.
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